(Original post by Boobies.)
I don't even think you should do it to shock - what your saying to your child is, "if you don't behave the way in which I want you to, i'm going to threaten you with violence until you're scared enough to do exactly what I say" - Its barbaric.

Either you mean "barbarous", or I have to disagree with you here. I'd hardly call spanking primitive or uncivilised. The question I'd ask you then, what makes putting the kid in a time-out better than a spank which doesn't hurt? In the end, all punishment is about scaring the child into learning correct behaviour, as deemed by the parent.

I was hit when I was a child by both my parents, my mother probably had it about right; a short sharp slap to shock me out of whatever I was doing wrong. My father however left hand prints on us numerous times, and you know the feeling when your skin is tingling from the smack? Had that a lot.

Do I detest it on the whole? Nope, I think sometimes words aren't enough to punish a child when they are misbehaving. I don't advocate regular, strong handed smacking but the occasional tap is effective if used properly. I will use smacking as a form of punishment when I have children in the same manner my mother used it, unless of course I'm blessed with perfect little angels!

(Original post by Boobies.)
I've been beaten up a fair few times, more around when i was 11/12 than when i was a child.
In my opinion, if you raise a child from birth, then you'll never need to lay a finger on them if you know how to parent properly. Its counterproductive and lazy - All it does it make other forms of discipline less effective.
I don't even think you should do it to shock - what your saying to your child is, "if you don't behave the way in which I want you to, i'm going to threaten you with violence until you're scared enough to do exactly what I say" - Its barbaric.
I think a much better method of discipline is to give them time outs, take their toys or send them to bed early - but have a consistent disciplining system where you actually explain what they're doing wrong and why its wrong. Then they'll grow up actually understanding why they're being punished, instead of acting up then being totally bewildered when they get a smack around the head or legs.

100% agree. Where's the learning process in just hitting a little person? Time spent reasoning with them is far better and they will learn what is appropriate and what isn't. Your relationship with them will just get better and better. I've never been physically punished in my life and I'm just about perfect

(Original post by CODKING)
100% agree. Where's the learning process in just hitting a little person? Time spent reasoning with them is far better and they will learn what is appropriate and what isn't. Your relationship with them will just get better and better. I've never been physically punished in my life and I'm just about perfect

Ever tried reasoning with a 5 year old i think you are being a bit wet.

(Original post by Trigger)
Ever tried reasoning with a 5 year old i think you are being a bit wet.

There is nothing wet about not wanting to hit a child but there is something worrying about the eagerness of some posters to have children and start whacking them.

I was five 10 years ago and never once had a tantrum. I do remember very clearly the withdrawal of privileges and how effective these sanctions were. It works and I intend to do exactly the same with any children of my own.

(Original post by CODKING)There is nothing wet about not wanting to hit a child but there is something worrying about the eagerness of some posters to have children and start whacking them.

I was five 10 years ago and never once had a tantrum. I do remember very clearly the withdrawal of privileges and how effective these sanctions were. It works and I intend to do exactly the same with any children of my own.

Yes, because anyone in this thread has expressed glee at the thought of hitting their kids

Removal of privileges will result in an even bigger tantrum in most kids. It's not discipline, it's just teaching the kid to be two faced to get their stuff back.

(Original post by CODKING)There is nothing wet about not wanting to hit a child but there is something worrying about the eagerness of some posters to have children and start whacking them.

I was five 10 years ago and never once had a tantrum. I do remember very clearly the withdrawal of privileges and how effective these sanctions were. It works and I intend to do exactly the same with any children of my own.

Using emotive language and big ol green letters is rather silly. I'm not for "wacking children" at every given opportunity. The fact you are convinced you never had a tantrum as a five year old is laughable and that you think that just because you were (as you "remember" ) a perfectly behaved child doesn't mean everyone elses kids are.

Constantly reasoning with your child is more damaging when they are young then a smack and a firm no.

Nope. There's a logical pathway between the two, so there's every likelihood it could teach them that. At young ages kids pick up parental behaviour and it becomes an example they follow sometimes, so if the child sees that the parent is using hitting as a means of problem solving, and there's a logical pathway between the two, then it's possible that they could pick up that idea and behaviour.

(Original post by Retrodiction)
Nope. There's a logical pathway between the two, so there's every likelihood it could teach them that. At young ages kids pick up parental behaviour and it becomes an example they follow sometimes, so if the child sees that the parent is using hitting as a means of problem solving, and there's a logical pathway between the two, then it's possible that they could pick up that idea and behaviour.

I don't think there's anything wrong with smacking a child on the bum when it's been naughty, but beating your child is another matter, although some would argue that it definitely teaches them not to misbehave again. I think that beating is too far!

Overall, I was never really smacked as a child because I was a little angel then I reached my teenage years...and it became the occasional smack accross the face when I was cheeky (I think this is really only happened about 5 or 6 times however in the last 4 years)

I found being shouted at a lot scarier than actually getting beats. I still whimper at the thought of my mum going into rage mode. I'd freely admit I'd prefer to pick a fight with a proffesional boxer than face my mum when she's in rage mode.